Main menu

Friday, October 29, 2010

This is continuation of article Violin clef / Treble clef (knot). I am interested in shibari art alias nawa-shibari. That is a reason why I write an article which describes how we can use rope for decorative purposes on human body.

My first article is about violin clef knot alias treble clef knot and his variations. 9 usefull knots used instead The Munder Hitch.

Treble clef
My first article is about violin clef knot alias treble clef knot and his variations. I give it its name because of his shape partially similar to mark of treble clef.

Remember you can click on any image to enlarge it. The most important think of this article is a table of variations, which contains properties of treble knots.

What is it?
9 usefull knots used instead The Munder Hitch. Same as Munter Hitch and Harper's Crossing hitch. Violin clef is formed of Harper's Crossing hitch. Harper describes it:

"This 'knot' is commonly used in Japanese ropework, wherever one rope crosses over another at a right-angle, or something close to one. You don't see it so often in Western-style bondage."

I've make some decorative improvement

What you need
You need an extra rope to tie person's legs, hands or to pass it around waist. In shibari we usually use folded rope so we have two lines of rope. In this article I call it main line. With another piece of rope we will make a knot with a bight. Bight is 1) name of final product 2) in descriptions how to tie bight is the point where is middle of the folded rope. Than means yes - you need to fold it.

Naming knot variations alias keywords

Every knot has a simple description how to tie it. The description is contained in three keywords. See table First word says weather we cross rope under or over. Combi - means I have combinated both under and over and under variation. At start we cross over. When we have basic pattern then we give it under main rope.Second word says weather we go directly to hole (loop) or we go to the hole from opposite site. In the other case we need to make a twist of bight to get loop there.Third word says weather we do one wrap or two wraps. The second wrap is decorative. See later.

This image shows a mistake, I released the upper loop of bight. But it is simple to make S shape loop again as on the second image up.

A tool for making wraps

Now I show you a single tool. You need 12 seconds to make double wrap pattern. But this is only for UNDER variations (revert for OVER variations). You stab your finger from right to the hole. But important is correct side of loop. You need the loop crosses line of working end at 90° from bottom. This video need flash player. If have none, download.

Now pull the rope through hole of bight. Of sure you must go under main rope to reach bight.

This is original Violin clef. Done.

Bottom look.

Complete variations

We learned how to tie basic pattern. I will show you other variations in another article. Now here is table if knots hat wait for us. You can download the table and publish it any where you wont, just don't forgot to mention where you take it from.

This knots I found by myself, I don't know if somebody else uses them. But is you start to use them, I'd like to know that you think about them and if you like them. I like it because it's just a game with rope.

This is continuation of article Violin clef / Treble clef (knot). I am interested in shibari art alias nawa-shibari. That is a reason why I write an article which describes how we can use rope for decorative purposes on human body.

My first article is about violin clef knot alias treble clef knot and his variations. 9 usefull knots used instead The Munder Hitch.

OVER - we cross the rope over, at start and when basic pattern is ready.UNDER - we cross the rope under, at start and when basic pattern is ready.COMBI - I have combinated both under and over and under variation. At start we cross over. When we have basic pattern then we give it under main rope.

DIRECT - we go directly to hole (bight)TWISTED - we go to the hole from opposite site. In the other case we need to make a twist of bight to get loop there.TWISTED L - twisted to left. L means left.TWISTED R - twisted to right. R means right.

single - we do one wrapdouble - we do two wraps. The second wrap is decorative.

Notes
* Knot like UNDER DIRECT single is possible to use to tie a single fast bight (something like yu loop but single bight)
* Every DIRECT knot - not twisted - in real contains a twist which you do when you do first cross.
* Every TWISTED knot in real contains one twist more. 1st one you do at start, the second after you place basic pattern under or over main line.

Descriptions

OVER DIRECT single

Direction: right, downTop look: When you have the loop prepared, then you need to put it over main line and start forming knot. Here depends on you what you do with it. You can give it shape that the working end goes down or crossways to right. The second is if incorrectly formed. That happens if you don't make forming but start with pulling working end. Default shape like on the picture: take the loosed loop of working end and make it paralel to wrap. That means you have three lines paralel like on the hangman's hitch. At first you pull the bight. Pull the bight and form violin clef shape. Then pull working end. That forms the default shape named violin clef.Bottom look:Simplicity: not so hardSolidity:Be aware. Tighten. But pulling the working end makes you hard to untie!Tightening: pull working endUnknoting:Loosing: pull the rope of working end in oposite direction.

OVER DIRECT double

Direction: right, downTop look: Not bad, but not so nice. You must remember you need bigger bight because if you pull working end bight tends to go out and release the knot. You need to pull bight tight. The bight tend to be little. This can be an advantage if you want a little loop.Bottom look:Simplicity: hard - you must remember you need bigger bightSolidity: very goodTightening: tight hard the bightUnknoting:Loosing: simple or harder

OVER TWISTED L single(side rope to right)Direction: downTop look: Forming is much more simple then with the OVER direct single. The twist makes the loop of working end going to the right place - to back. Then you pull bight. Last you pull working end.Bottom look:Simplicity:Solidity:Tightening:Unknoting:Unknoting should be simple. You just lean out the two lines of working end. Bend it to right. It is loosed now and you can push out the bight.

OVER single TWISTED to right - Violin clef shape

Direction: downTop look: Very nice. Turn the twist to rightBottom look:Simplicity: Fine. This is an advantage because of unknottingSolidity:Tightening:Unknoting:Loosing: very simple

Direction: downTop look: Nice. The twist here means you turn the loop to right. There is no twist when you pull the bight through loop. You don't pull bight but working end!Bottom look:Simplicity: harderSolidity: very goodTightening: not badUnknoting: Loosing: very simple

UNDER DIRECT single

Direction: downTop look: You must remember you need bigger bight because if you pull working end bight tends to go out and release the knot. Strong pull the loop to fix the knot. If you have little bight you use twist variation because it's much more better.Bottom look:Simplicity:Solidity:Tightening: Strong pull the loop to fix the knot!Unknoting:

UNDER DIRECT double

Direction: downTop look: You can create nice lite bight but the look is not so nice like classical violin clef.Bottom look:not much niceSimplicity: not simpleSolidity: very solid

Tightening: You need not much to tight (by working end). If you have little bight, pull tight and unknotting harder Unknoting: If you have little bight, pull tight by working end and unknotting harder

UNDER DIRECT double variation

Direction: downTop look: This is variation. When you have a bight prepared, make a 90° turn to right. Then pull through loop.Bottom look:Simplicity:Solidity:Tightening:Unknoting:

UNDER TWISTED R single

Direction: left, downTop look: Nice and interesting. Turn the twist right to form violin clef shape at bottom. Note: Original note of me here was that I should make a turn to left. That is confusing to me. Left twist makes not sense here.Bottom look: Violin clef shape.You can tie the knot to main line reversibly to get the bottom at the top position.

Simplicity: Fine. This is an advantage because of unknottingSolidity:Tightening:Unknoting: Loosing: very simple

This was with left twist:

Right twist photo with violin shape is not here yet.

UNDER TWISTED double

Direction: right, downTop look: Strange big ball, that turns to bottom of the main line.

COMBI DIRECT single (over+under)

Direction: downTop look: If the loop is formed pull the bight tight. This is over+under variation. Not much nice, but works wellBottom look:Simplicity: Simple Solidity:Tightening:Unknoting:Loosing: Simple to unknot

COMBI TWISTED single (over+under)Direction: downTop look: not much nice, useless